New Vegas Lead Expected Negative Results 3 Comparisons

Key takeaways

  • Going into the release of Fallout: New Vegas, Obsidian was aware of the potential for bugs and complaints about reused assets.

  • Still, that didn't stop the studio from prioritizing quest design and player agency, elements that would win over fans.

  • In the end, their gamble paid off as New Vegas is remembered as one of the best Fallout games ever.

If you ask any Fallout fan what their favorite entry in the franchise is, it's likely that the vast majority will say Fallout: New Vegas. Obsidian's take on the post-apocalyptic wasteland is one of the best entries in the series, thanks in large part to its expert quest design and player agency.

That said, as beloved as Fallout: New Vegas is, that wasn't always the case. In fact, Obsidian knew going into New Vegas that the game would be the subject of complaints due to bugs and comparisons to Fallout 3. Still, that didn't stop the studio from putting its best foot forward, even knowing the potential for backlash. was high.

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New Vegas is a true gem

Speaking to Edge Magazine, New Vegas director, Josh Sawyer, relayed some of the fears Obsidian had ahead of the game's official launch. Because the team was given such a tight deadline of 18 months, assets from Fallout 3 were inevitably going to be reused, and the game wouldn't feel nearly as complete on day one.

“I knew people were going to say, 'Hey, it basically looks like Fallout 3.' And there were a lot of complaints about bugs. It was very frustrating because we weren't aware, but you always have to prioritize things,” Sawyer said.

What Obsidian chose to prioritize was player agency and quest design, aspects of the game that would largely stand the test of time. That big bet has paid off as New Vegas is well-respected in that department, even years after its release.

“All of our work went into complex and quests of freedom and critical path, and faction alliances,” Sawyer explained. “Those are the things that, if you just do one playthrough, you're like, 'Yeah, whatever, who cares?' So it took time for people to go 'Oh, wow, actually you can line up straight to the strip.'

Over time, New Vegas has become one of the most popular Fallout experiences. And depending on who you ask, it's remembered more fondly than Fallout 3. In other words, Obsidian's big gamble when it came to paying quests vs. wealth. “We really focused a lot on the freedom to play the game you want, and I think that stood out over time,” Sawyer concluded.

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